Crago-Kramer collection of sugar packets
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Abstract
The Crago-Kramer collection includes a variety of sugar packets from New York City and New York State, dating from the 1930s-1960s. The packets are often distinctive in that they refer to particular business establishments, especially hotels and restaurants, institutions, and some events, notably the World's Fairs of 1939-40 and of 1964-65 and the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Biographical/Historical Note
Clive Probert, the collection donor, began collecting sugar packets about 1970. In the course of his collecting he was sent two existing collections. One was the Martin Kramer collection, compiled in the 1940s and 1950s by Kramer and sent to Probert by a descendant, Lee Goldberg. The second was the Priscilla Hayward Crago collection, started in the 1930s. The Crago collection included packets from several states, with Probert donating the New York related packets to N-YHS.
(The above was based on information from Probert's website as of February 2018.)
Arrangement Note
The collection remains in the order as presented by the donor. Folder 1 holds what appears to be the original Martin Kramer collection. Folders 2-7 hold the contents of 5 binders, which appear to be the Priscilla Hayward Crago portion.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes a variety of sugar packets from New York City and New York State. There are also some artificial sweeteners. Most of the packets indicate a brand of sugar (e.g., Domino's, River Valley, Jack Frost), but are also distinctive in that they can be linked to a particular venue, event, or other particular context. The earliest appear to date from the 1930s and include packets referring to exhibition buildings at the 1939-40 World's Fair, including those of Borden's, F&M Schaefer Brewing, and the YMCA. Other events represented in the collection are the 1964-65 World's Fair and the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid.
A variety of establishments are represented by one or more packets. These especially include hotels (e.g., Hotel Helmsley, Algonquin, Nevele Country Club, the Concord, Woodstock Inn & Resort) and restaurants (e.g., Stage Deli , Fraunces Tavern, Nedick's Coffee Shop, Mamma Leone's, Sardi's). Some packets appear to be designed and branded for general distribution by suppliers; these often include imagery such as drawings of ships and New York State landmarks. Packets for miscellaneous institutions also appear, such as the New York Athletic Club, St. Mary's Hospital (Troy, NY), Station WRGB-NBC, the United Nations, and the Corning Glass Center.
Images of many of these packets can be found at the web site of the collection's donor; click here.
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Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers by appointment only.
Use Restrictions
Permission to reproduce any Print Room holdings through publication must be obtained from: Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 270. Fax: (212) 579-8794.
Preferred Citation Note
This collection should be cited as the Crago-Kramer collection of sugar packets, PR 354, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.
Credit line: Donated by Clive Probert. Originally collected by Priscilla Hayward Crago of Albany, and Martin & Esther Kramer of Brooklyn.
Immediate Source of Acquisition Note
Gift from Clive Probert, October 2015.
About this Guide
Processing Information Note
The collection was processed in February 2018 by archivist Larry Weimer and volunteer Carol Reisner.